Maximum Push-up Exercise Machine

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of a maximum push-up exercise machine ( 100 ) for various push-up exercises with added resistance having a cable-pulley weight stack system housing ( 102 ) with a cable-pulley weight stack system ( 104 ) that is welded, bolted, or connected in any manner to a platform ( 108 ). The configuration of the cable-pulley weight stack system may be in any manner such that a cable thimble ( 110 ) is positioned substantially midpoint of the platform. The cable thimble is configured to receive a snap link hook suspended from a belt or harness worn by a user or a cable connector from a single cable handle attachment or push-up bar.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Pat. No. Pat. No. Kind Code Issue Date Patentee 7,588,521 B1 Sep. 15, 2009 Carlo Fazzari 9,511,258 B2 Dec. 6, 2016 Richard J. Hoole 6,244,998 B1 Jun. 12, 2001 Jon Harrington Hinds 9,205,299 B1 Dec. 8, 2015 Raashed Hall 5,033,741 — Jul. 23, 1991 Gregory F. Ganzer 9,155,934 B2 Oct. 13, 2015 Blake Kassel

U.S. patent application Pub. Pub. No. Kind Code Publ. Date Applicant 20040242388 A1 Dec. 2, 2004 Richard Kusminsky 20140274593 A1 Sep. 18, 2014 Sean Kelly

Push-ups have always been used to measure one's body strength and is beneficial to people of all ages. Many people do bodyweight exercises such as push-ups along with weight lifting exercises in their workouts. People have the need to add resistance to push-ups in a safe and convenient manner to match the intensity of their weight lifting exercises within the timeframe of their workouts. People do push-ups with added resistance for two reasons: 1) keep doing pushups with added intensity, and 2) improve bench press performance. Many people in commercial gyms use weights to increase the resistance of push-ups by placing weight plates on their back or wearing a weight vest. They use a partner to put the weight plate on their back and take it away when done from push-ups. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,521 to Carlo Fazzari (2009) one does push-ups with weights placed on weight support platform placed on one's back and as pushups are repeated the weight support platform with parallel upright rods slide up and down along parallel guide elements. In U.S. Pat. No. 9,511,258 to Richard J. Hoole (2016) a user performs weighted push-ups by grasping on a pair of hand grips that are above a lever arm and feet are placed on an elevated platform that is adjustable in height relative to the pair of hand grips. The lever arm having a proximate end coupled pivotally to a base and the lever arm is configured to provide a resistance against vertical movement of a distal end of the lever arm. The distal end of the lever arm is configured to receive a connector suspended from a belt or harness worn by a user. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,741 to Ganzer (1991) a wall mounted isometric push-up machine allows a user to perform push-ups against a padded base that provides resistance in the vertical direction using pressure springs. The user can adjust the amount of resistance by changing the pressure spring.

Few people in commercial gyms use chains to add resistance to push-ups by laying it over their back forming an X-shape. Another way people add resistance to push-ups is by using resistance bands. Some use clip bands/flat bands/strength bands to loop it over their backs and place their hands on the band and do push-ups. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,998 to Jon Harrington Hinds (2001) push-ups with added resistance are done by placing a padded cushion on one's back and resistance bands are attached to it and to soft handles at the other end. In U.S. Pat. No. 9,205,299 to Raashed Hall (2015) a kind of resistance band known as flat band is looped around one's back and attached to hand grips to add resistance to push-ups. In U.S. Pat. No. 9,155,934 to Blake Kassel (2015) a user performs push-ups with added resistance using a resistance band known as clip band that loops around one's back and attached to hand grips. In U.S. patent application publication 20040242388 to Richard Kusminsky (2004) a user performs push-ups with added resistance by using a unidirectional exercise machine for increasing the effort required for a user to perform a push-up or other exercise including an adjustable brake engaging a cable drum for inhibiting the unwinding of a cable attached to a user during the extending portion of the exercise and a clutch operatively coupled to the brake for releasing the brake and allowing the cable to freely rewind during the retracting portion of the exercise. In U.S. patent application publication 20140274593 to Sean Kelly (2014) a user performs push-ups with added resistance by using a resistance push-up apparatus having a harness to be worn by a user and having hooks to attach the harness to a set of free weights. The push-up apparatus allowing the user to lift his or her own weight plus the extra free weights connected to the harness during the push-up exercise.

However, it is not safe to put a lot of weight plates on your back and do pushups even in the presence of a partner. In the case of wearing a weight vest, it is not safe to wear a heavy weight vest when doing pushups and reaching near failure. It is difficult to get out of a set of pushups when using a weight vest. The use of chains is not practiced at most commercial gyms and is inconvenient. For Fazzari's disclosure, it is difficult to get out of the prone (starting) position when done performing finger push-ups as the weight is still on the user or the weight support platform is right above the user. For Hoole's disclosure, one cannot perform push-ups such as finger push-ups and knuckle (punch/fist) push-ups with added resistance. For Hind's disclosure, one cannot perform finger push-ups and knuckle push-ups as well as push-ups with different hand grips with added resistance. It causes pain in the hands and wrists when using heavy resistance bands because the soft handles loop around the thumbs. For Hall's disclosure, one cannot perform finger push-ups and knuckle push-ups as well as push-ups with different hand spacing with added resistance. Also, one is limited by the amount of resistance they can use since only one flat band is used and other kinds of bands cannot be used. For Kassel's disclosure, one cannot perform finger push-ups, knuckle (punch/fist) push-ups, and push-ups with different hand spacing with added resistance. The resistance band may move or slide when one reaches the starting position of a push-up. For Kusminsky's disclosure, one cannot perform finger push-ups and knuckle push-ups as well as push-ups with different hand grips with added resistance. For Kelly's disclosure, it requires one to setup and create space for those who train in commercial gyms. Even if commercial gym members use two benches to execute push-ups with added resistance the benches are usually occupied by other gym members doing other exercises either by the dumbbell rack or in power racks/smith machines. Those interested in doing partial push-ups (the last few inches before the end position of a push-up) and isometric push-ups (static contraction) would have to setup and cannot easily do that in commercial gyms.

These disclosures heretofore known suffer from a few disadvantages:

-   -   (a) One cannot perform various push-up exercises such as finger         push-ups, knuckle (punch/fist) push-ups, push-ups with different         hand grips, planks, and push-up to row (A.K.A push-up renegade         row) with added resistance to failure independently in a safe         and convenient manner along with other exercises in a workout         without sacrificing valuable time for productive muscle building         with time spent on setting up which most people do not have         especially commercial gym members.     -   (b) One cannot perform various push-up exercises such as finger         push-ups, knuckle push-ups, push-ups with different hand grips,         planks, and push-up to row with added resistance all in one         machine.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment a maximum push-up exercise machine comprises a cable-pulley weight stack system housing, a cable-pulley weight stack system, a platform, and a cable thimble from the cable pulley weight stack system positioned midpoint of the platform and configured to receive a snap link hook suspended from a harness or belt worn by a user performing push-ups on the platform.

Advantages

Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a maximum push-up exercise machine that enables a user wearing a belt or harness to perform push-ups (regular, finger, and knuckle) with added resistance and to quickly change the resistance level independently, that enables a user to perform planks and push-up to row exercises with added resistance, and that enables a user to perform push-ups on balance and stabilization equipment with added resistance. These advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing descriptions.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a perspective view of a maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show a user performing a push-up exercise on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a user performing planks on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a user assuming a knuckle (punch/fist) push-up exercise position on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a user assuming a finger push-up exercise position on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a user performing push-up to row (push-up renegade row) exercise on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a user performing push-up to row (push-up renegade row) exercise using push-up bars on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show a user assuming a push-up exercise position on balance and stabilization equipment on maximum push-up exercise machine in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1A AND 1B

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, an exemplary embodiment of a maximum push-up exercise machine is disclosed. The maximum push-up exercise machine has a cable-pulley weight stack system housing 102, a cable-pulley weight stack system 104, and a platform 108. The maximum push-up exercise machine has a platform 108 bolted, welded, or connected in any manner to a cable-pulley weight stack system housing 102 with a cable-pulley weight stack system 104 configured to position a cable thimble 110 substantially midpoint of the platform. The platform may be connected to the cable-pulley weight stack system housing via a hinge 112. Belts, cables, cams, pulleys, or any combination thereof may be used in the cable-pulley weight stack system. The configuration of the cable-pulley weight stack system may be in any arrangement such that the cable thimble is positioned substantially midpoint of the platform. A weight stack selector pin 114 for selecting a desired weight is inserted into a weight stack 136. The cable thimble is configured to receive a snap link hook suspended from a harness or belt worn by a user 106. On one side of the cable-pulley weight stack housing is a container 116 to hold items such as towels, cleaning agent spray bottle, water bottle, etc. FIG. 1B shows the platform rotated about the hinge. This may aid in saving space in the storage and transportation of maximum push-up exercise machine from one place to another. The material of the cable-pulley weight stack system housing may be made of stainless steel or any other material known in the art. The material of the platform may be made of stainless steel covered with rubber like material such as rubber molded handle grips used in exercise handles, particle board/plywood covered with rubber horse stall mats like a weight lifting platform, any combination thereof, or any material known in the art.

OPERATION—FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, AND 8

A user performs a push-up exercise with added resistance by first selecting a desired weight by inserting the weight stack selector pin 114 into the weight stack 136. Then, the user 106 wears a harness or belt adjusting the length of the chain to any link and leans forward on the platform 108 and attaches snap link hook suspended from a belt or harness to cable thimble 110. Then, the user 106 gets into the starting (prone) position of a push-up exercise as shown in FIG. 2A. The user is now ready to engage in a push-up exercise with added resistance. As the user raises their body by extending their elbows from the platform 108, the user pushes their bodyweight plus the weight they selected from the weight stack 136. In FIG. 2A, the snap link hook would be attached to the nearest link to the harness or belt to feel tension through full range of motion of a push-up exercise. The user 106 can place their feet on a step-up exercise platform, swiss ball, medicine ball, or any other object to elevate their feet and change their body's angle. In FIG. 2B, the user 106 can attach the snap link hook to any link of the chain to allow for partial range of motion push-up exercises. This allows a user to add more resistance to push-up exercises. In FIG. 2C, the user 106 can also attach the snap link hook to any link of the chain to execute timed push-up holds (e.g., planks); isometric push-up. This enables a user to perform both yielding and overcoming isometric push-up exercise with added resistance. Yielding isometric push-up exercise would be a user holding a position few inches before the end position of a push-up for as long as they can even though they can push harder and raise their body. In contrast, overcoming isometric push-up exercise would be a user holding a position few inches before the end position of a push-up and pushing as hard as they can against an immovable resistance.

A user 106 can perform planks, knuckle (punch/fist) push-up, and finger push-ups with added resistance with the use of a belt or harness as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The user wearing a harness or belt with chain suspended from it can adjust the length of the chain to perform full range of motion, partial range of motion, or isometric knuckle and finger push-ups. This allows the user to progress in their knuckle and finger push-ups. It also allows the user to train their fingers, hands, and wrists in a compound (multi-joint) exercise instead of an isolation (single-joint) exercise saving time and improving all other exercises.

A user 106 can perform push-up to row (push-up renegade row) exercise using single cable handle attachments with the ability to quickly change the resistance level independently without leaving exercise space as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this scenario, the user assumes the end position of a push-up exercise with one arm and pulls (rows) with the other arm. A user 106 can also perform push-up to row exercise using push-up bars 138 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In this scenario, the user can perform a full range of motion push-up then pull (row) the weight with one arm via a push-up bar cable connector 140. The user can also use a push-up bar to get into the end position of a push-up with one arm and pull (row) the weight with the other arm using single cable handle attachments. In addition, the user can also perform push-up to row plank hold by using push-up bars of different heights or a push-up bar and a single cable handle attachment with the pulling arm slightly lower than the other to feel the resistance of the weight and hold that position for as long as they can. This allows the user to engage the core muscles more to resist rotation of the torso because back muscles cannot be relied on as heavily to resist rotation.

Another exercise a user 106 can perform is push-ups on a balance and stabilization equipment 142 with added resistance by wearing a belt or harness as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The balance and stabilization equipment 142 has a balance and stabilization equipment opening 144 and is placed on the platform 108 such that cable thimble 110 from the cable-pulley weight stack system 104 can travel through the balance and stabilization equipment opening 144 for adding resistance to push-ups on a balance and stabilization equipment 142. This emphasizes on core development and the user can increase the difficulty of the exercise by adding resistance.

The balance and stabilization equipment 142 when turned upside down allows a user 106 to perform push-ups with hands on half ball as shown in FIG. 8C. This emphasizes on inner chest and users can perform this exercise with added resistance. The balance and stabilization equipment may be made of a wooden material with comfort anti-slip grip surface on the flat side of it, high density expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam like foam rollers, or any material known in the art that will withstand a user's weight plus the weight of the weight stack.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 maximum push-up exercise 102 cable-pulley weight stack machine system housing 104 cable-pulley weight stack 106 user system 108 platform 110 cable thimble 112 hinge 114 weight stack selector pin 116 container 118 rod 120 cable 122 pulley 124 pulley mounts 126 shaft collar 128 rubber weight stack cushions 130 weight stack center selector shaft 132 cable-to-weight stack adapter 134 weight stack guide rods 136 weight stack 138 push-up bars 140 push-up bar cable connector 142 balance and stabilization equipment 144 balance and stabilization equipment opening

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of my maximum push-up exercise machine become evident:

-   -   (a) The user is able to perform finger push-ups, knuckle         (punch/fist) push-ups, planks, push-ups on balance and         stabilization equipment, and push-up to row exercises with added         resistance all in one machine.     -   (b) The user is able to progress in the above exercises         consistently since it can all be done in one designated space         without spending time to set up saving time and great for         organization and avoidance of injury.     -   (c) The user is able to eliminate muscular effort from lifting         weight plates and placing them in pegs to add or reduce weight         with the use of a weight stack system adding intensity to the         above exercises.     -   (d) The user is able to train their core muscles and the muscles         of their fingers, hands, and wrists heavily in one machine         performing compound (multi-joint) exercises instead of isolation         (singlejoint) exercises.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the maximum push-up machine allows a user to perform push-ups using different hand grips, finger push-ups, and knuckle push-ups through dynamic motion (full range motion and partial range of motion) and static position (yielding isometrics and overcoming isometrics) with added resistance in one machine. Also, the user can quickly change the weight and multiple users can perform push-ups with added resistance together with no muscular effort lost from lifting weight plates and placing them in pegs. In addition, the user can perform push-ups with added resistance using push-up bars and exercise equipment of their choosing. Furthermore, the maximum push-up exercise machine has the additional advantages in that:

-   -   it allows the user to perform push-up to row plank hold exercise         which is a unique exercise that works the core muscles heavily         while working other muscles as well saving user's time to spend         on isolation exercises to target core muscles.     -   it allows the user to train their core muscles and the muscles         of their hands, fingers, and wrists more often and consistently         along with other muscle groups without spending time performing         isolation (single-joint) exercises, performing workouts for core         and lower arm muscles, and effecting one's recovery because of         time spent performing core and lower arm workouts from major         workouts and/or sports.     -   it allows the user to perform numerous exercises in one machine         that are beneficial to people of all ages.     -   it provides a user a complete workout when paired with pulling         exercises, shoulder presses, and lower body exercises.

The above described embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, as one skilled in the art can, in view of the present invention, expand such embodiment to correspond with the subject matter of the present invention claimed below. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A maximum push-up exercise machine, comprising: means for performing push-ups with added resistance using different hand grips; means for performing push-ups with added resistance through desired range of motion; means for performing finger push-ups with added resistance; means for performing knuckle push-ups with added resistance; means for performing planks with added resistance; means for performing push-up to row with added resistance; and means for performing push-ups on balance and stabilization equipment with added resistance.
 2. A maximum push-up exercise machine, comprising: a cable-pulley weight stack system housing; a cable-pulley weight stack system; a platform; and a cable thimble from said cable-pulley weight stack system positioned substantially midpoint of the platform; wherein said cable thimble is configured to receive a snap link hook suspended from a belt or harness worn by a user performing push-up exercises on said platform to add resistance.
 3. A method for performing various push-up exercises with added resistance, comprising: a cable-pulley weight stack system housing; a cable-pulley weight stack system; a platform; and a cable thimble from said cable-pulley weight stack system positioned substantially midpoint of the platform, said cable thimble is configured to receive a snap link hook suspended from a belt or harness worn by a user or a cable connector from a single cable handle attachment or push-up bar; whereby a user can perform various push-up exercises with added resistance in one convenient space. 